W Hotels launches iPhone app

10-6-2011

The hotel chain W Hotels launched a free iPhone app for the guests. Through this app guests can search for hotel information such as photos, maps and weather information. But through this app guests can also listen to music, requesting the room service menu and contact the concierge. 

 

Your personal travel guide of Istanbul

9-6-2011

Everything you want to know about Istanbul, you find out with Wizard Istanbul. This is a 24/7 crowdsourced online travel guide, where you can drop all your questions about Istanbul. Volunteers, like residents of the city or fellow travelers, can respond on your message and will give you nice and usefull tips.

 

Okura app including jetlag program

9-6-2011

The Amsterdam Okura Hotel developed an app for her guests. Through this app, the guests can contact the concierge, read the blog of Onno Kokmeijer (the chef of the restaurant), can collect suggestions for city trips en can even compose a jetlag program. This app is free of charge and available in the Apple iTunes store. A nice example of increasing the hotel service!

 

Interactive ping pong on the street

8-6-2011

McDonalds gives away free snacks with the pick ‘N play game. Smartphone owners in the neighbourhood of the interactive billboard could play the game directly online, so it’s not necessary to download an application. After choosing their favorite snack, they could play for a download with code that was refundable at the nearest restaurant.

Shower head with Legionnaires disease filter

3-6-2011

The Dutch company PB international thought of a new way to keep legionnaires’ disease out of our bathrooms. The previous showerhead systems where expensive due to the high maintainance costs. The filters needed regular replacement. This new system is self cleaning and increases the livespan of the showerhead 25 times.

Magic at the table

31-5-2011

The U-food device from the firm Cnudde lets plates float and turn like a ufo! It works through the interaction of 2 negative and positive magnets that can be placed in a table. Great show element!

Instant drying terrace pillows

31-5-2011

A new foam material that drains out water immediately. De fabric is made of recycled pvc reinforced with nylon. The water drains through the microscopic tiny holes and the pillows can aigain be used just five minutes after a rain shower.

High tech toilet

26-5-2011

This is a fully automated toilet. When you enter the bathroom the lid rises and with a flick of your foot you determine whether the seat has to rise or not. Before you sit down, the seat and feet warmers have already done their work. For that little bit of entertainement, a mp3/radio is integrated into the toilet. It plays a preset playlist or a radio channel. When you are finished, the sprinkler and dryer take care of the rest.

Your coffee always at the right temperature

19-5-2011

This stainless steal coffeebean makes sure the coffee is always on the right temperature. The coffeebean has temperature controlling material inside which absorbs the heat of the coffee and releases it slowly. Therefore it cools the coffee down when it’s too hot and reheats it when the coffee gets to cold.

Inspiration for hoteliers

16-5-2011

The vacation period is coming up again and apart from all the preparation, comes another challenge: the big SIM card exchange with family and friends. Because of the extraordinary (roaming) costs that come with a SIM card from ‘back home’, it is cheaper to call with local cards. If your relatives can’t provide you with the right card(s), a newly bought card is one of the best value-for-money buys you can do on your holiday. Mostly it even pays off to buy an extra phone as well, especially if you return to the country on a regular basis or stay for more than a month.

 

Wouldn’t it be very nice if you could save all this fuzz and lend a card, or even a phone upon your arrival?! And wouldn’t it be very easy to have such a service at your hotel? The phone in the hotel rooms is only used for a wake-up call or room service, but imagine the possibilities of a ‘mobile hotel phone’. The ideal win-win situation whereas the guest can call much cheaper, the hotelier provides an extra service and can even make last minute offers or send (important) messages.

The introduction costs of a concept like this are acceptable, hotel owners can even start a test with cheap prepaid SIM cards. I’m sure you will gain extra service points from your guests and the media, a nice instrument for free publicity.

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